Cassandra Jenkins: Exploring the Marvellous in the Mundane

Cassandra Jenkins is a captivating artist whose new album, "My Light, My Destroyer," delves into the extraordinary within the ordinary. In a chance encounter along the Regent's Canal, Jenkins shares her unique perspective on the magic of coincidence, the power of vulnerability, and the transformative relationship between people and place.

Uncovering the Extraordinary in the Everyday

Embracing the Marvellous

Cassandra Jenkins' creative process is a testament to her ability to find the extraordinary in the everyday. As she guides us through the winding paths of Regent's Canal, she pauses to share her insights on André Breton's concept of "le merveilleux," or the marvellous. Jenkins explains that Breton's idea is not just about the fantastical, but rather an energy that flows through the city, a force that can be tapped into by those who are attuned to the subtle nuances of their surroundings."He's talking about an energy, but it's specific to a city; it's a thing that kind of flows through us, something that you can tap into if you turn a certain corner, or run into a certain person," Jenkins says, her eyes alight with wonder. "I try not to necessarily walk the same exact route every time, but let it take you in a slightly different direction and see what that leads you to – see what kind of things you might find, or symbols you might see on the walls. Little audio clips that you'll hear, depending on who's passing by. It always feels so magical when you run into someone. It's kind of that same energy, just letting that flow."

Dissolving Boundaries

At the heart of "My Light, My Destroyer" is a fascination with the interplay between the microcosmic and the macrocosmic. Jenkins seamlessly weaves tales of liberating pet stores and keeping the windows clean during a shift at a flower shop with odes to William Shatner's reflections on the Earth from space and the awe-inspiring sight of asteroids "the size of a skyscraper.""Everything small is just a small version of something big!" Jenkins exclaims, echoing the sentiment from the beloved cartoon "Adventure Time." This relentless wonder, she explains, has been a driving force in her creative journey since childhood, when she would belt out "Twist and Shout" and marvel at the unique timbre of her own voice.

The Power of Vulnerability

As we delve deeper into the album, Jenkins opens up about the themes of vulnerability and destruction that permeate her work. The centerpiece of the record, "Omakase," is a stirring, string-backed epic that Jenkins describes as "anthemic in a quiet way, like as close to an anthem as I could write.""I think if you had to sum it all up, that song is really about vulnerability," Jenkins says, recounting a story of her and her partner erupting in laughter at an inappropriate moment – a shared experience that, in her words, "destroys you" in the most intimate and powerful way.Jenkins expands on this idea, exploring the delicate balance of being vulnerable to another person and the trust required to hold that space with care and love. "It takes a tremendous amount of care to be that for someone else. But it's a good goal," she reflects.

The Myth of Cassandra

The album's title, "My Light, My Destroyer," is a nod to the myth of Cassandra, in which Jenkins' namesake yells to the god Apollo seven times as she descends into madness. Jenkins explains that the root of Apollo, the god of light, also means "to destroy," creating a powerful duality in Cassandra's words."She is, in one fell swoop, by shifting the inflection very slightly, saying to Apollo both 'you're my god' and 'you're my destroyer,'" Jenkins says, her eyes shining with the weight of this ancient tale.

The Art of Noticing

As our conversation winds its way through the canal, Jenkins returns to the idea of slowing down and truly observing the world around us – a practice that she sees as vital to the creative process. She picks up the ring she had discovered earlier, examining it from different angles, and reflects on the power of the incidental details that often go unnoticed."Keeping that part of ourselves in shape is kind of vital; it's almost survival more than anything," Jenkins says. "To recognise when you're losing touch with that is a great portal to shifting gears into being able to notice the things that resonate with you, and allow you to land on that frequency where you really can hear that magnificent chord."In this moment, Jenkins embodies the essence of her art – a constant state of wonder, a willingness to be distracted and delighted by the world around her, and a deep understanding that the most profound insights can be found in the most unexpected places.